3.70 lakh rickshaw-taxi strike in Ahmedabad in protest against Ola-Uber-Rapido: Rickshaw driver's bullying, passengers with sticks dropped midway; Police convoy piled up

The 'Save Employment' movement of 3.70 lakh rickshaw and taxi drivers of Ahmedabad has intensified against online taxi apps like Ola, Uber, Rapido. Various organizations, including Ahmedabad Rickshaw Drivers Ekta, have called for a complete shutdown of 4 days from today till September 10 as the pending issues have not been resolved despite repeated representations. The union had claimed that 3 lakh rickshaws and 70,000 taxi drivers would join the strike, which started at midnight, but the strike received a dull response as vehicles continued in many areas. The members of the union took to the streets to make the strike a success. There was a dispute near Ranip bus station when a rickshaw driver came with a stick and forced the passengers to join the strike. The police have also rushed to the spot as the rickshaw drivers have come to the hooliganism. Mixed reaction to the strike, Photos Passenger Maniben said, "We have to get off the rickshaw midway and now we have to walk to work. If the strike goes on for four days, we will have to face a lot of difficulties. We appeal to Narendra Modi to reduce inflation. We have a salary of Rs 10,000, from which if we remove the rickshaw fare, there is nothing left. We do not even get a place to sit in the bus, so we use the rickshaw to reach on time. Running a house with so much income or educating children?: Rickshaw puller Rickshaw driver Ashish Gamiti said, "We are facing a beating if we do not stop the illegal two-wheelers that are roaming in the online application. Also, the fare fixed by the government is not given in the online application. It has also become difficult for rickshaw drivers to run their homes due to lack of adequate fares. While gas prices are constantly rising, on the other hand, the fare is not increased through the online application. Passengers are not ready to sit according to the meter: Indervijay Singh Another rickshaw driver, Indravijaysinh Vaghela, said, "Passengers say come according to the fare of the online application, but less than half of it is paid. As per the government rules, the fare has been increased from Rs 20 to Rs 25, while only Rs 10 to 12 is given in the online application. Two-wheelers with white number plates are not being stopped despite informing the government. Some rickshaw drivers are driving rickshaws thinking that the strike will start in the morning, so we are appealing to them to stand peacefully and join the strike. Main demands of the union and representation to the government The unions have alleged that the unregulated policies of private app companies have created a serious crisis on the livelihood of rickshaw-taxi drivers. The main demands are an immediate ban on illegal two-wheeler taxi services running on online platforms and fixing reasonable fares as per the prescribed norms of the government. In this regard, after sending a memorandum to the Transport Commissioner at Gandhinagar on August 27, the agitation was started from August 28 by putting up posters protesting behind the rickshaws, but after not getting a positive response from the administration, the path of chakka jam has finally been adopted. Exemption of school vehicles from closure In order to make this bandh a success, the union workers will be deployed in different areas and will peacefully explain to the violating drivers. All services except emergency services have been requested to be suspended. However, keeping in view the education and safety of the students, school vans and school rickshaw drivers have been exempted from this bandh on humanitarian grounds, so that regular services to transport children from home to school will continue.